Fairfax Modification & Enforcement Lawyer
When You Need to Modify or Enforce Your Rights
Virginia family law recognizes that circumstances change, and that the arrangements for child support or alimony set forth in a court order or property settlement agreement might need modification. The law also recognizes that the enforcement of support obligations or other provisions might require judicial intervention.
If you need advice about the modification or enforcement of any Northern Virginia family court order or agreement, contact an attorney at MacDowell & Associates in Fairfax to learn about your rights and your legal alternatives.
Call 703-763-0923 for Advice About Modification or Enforcement of Orders
Modification of any continuing obligation can be ordered by a court if you can show that a material change in circumstances has occurred. As your attorneys, our first job will be to advise you whether the change in your situation is likely to be substantial enough to justify seeking an order for modification.
Assuming that the changed circumstances represent a big difference in one party's needs or the other party's ability to pay, we'll go right to work gathering and organizing the evidence that you will need to present in court.
Examples of the kinds of changes that can support a modification of current child support, child custody or alimony orders include:
- Loss of a job
- Incapacity of the primary custodial parent
- Medical problems or other special needs of a child
- Injury or disability of a person paying child or spousal support
- Cohabitation or remarriage of a person receiving spousal support
- Change in work hours or assignment requiring change in a visitation schedule
- Significant job promotion or other salary increase of at least 20 percent for either parent
Our lawyers also advise people who need assistance with the enforcement of continuing obligations that go into unexcused default. We can help you document and present evidence of missed alimony or child support payments or repeated interference with a child visitation schedule.
Unpaid family court commitments can lead to contempt of court citations, jail terms and an order to pay the complaining party's attorney fees. Usually, the credible threat of these sanctions is enough to bring the party in default into compliance.
For additional information about the availability of modification and enforcement of family law orders in Northern Virginia, contact MacDowell & Associates in Fairfax.
